Today we’d like to introduce you to Audrey Vardanega.
Hi Audrey, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I’m a pianist and arts innovator based in Berkeley, CA, and New York, NY. A few years ago, I founded Musaics of the Bay, a 501c3 arts organization in Berkeley devoted to bringing together emerging instrumentalists, composers, and visual artists for creative collaboration and the creation of new work. My work as an arts innovator is motivated by the extraordinary young artists I regularly collaborate with and the problem of the scarcity mindset in the classical arts industry. In music school, I was often told that there were so few sustainable jobs available, and I had to ‘fight’ for the opportunity to perform. This mindset creates a lot of negativity for young artists – through my work with Musaics of the Bay, I strive to open up channels for young artists to forge new career paths for themselves and build effective ways to tell their stories to audiences that are new to the classical arts.
Additionally, Musaics of the Bay strives to create new possibilities for the classical art forms. We not only work with classically trained instrumentalists, but we also work with emerging composers, improvisers, vocalists, musicians hailing from world traditions, and visual artists. By taking artists from different backgrounds and bringing them together for meaningful collaboration, we open up a space where conversations about new collaborations happen and new artistic possibilities emerge. It has been a real joy to watch inspiration happen in real time!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road! The arts industry is notorious for being a difficult industry, especially when you’re just starting out. It is especially difficult to start a brand-new organization specializing in the classical arts right out of school. Beyond the administrative struggles of managing daily tasks (emails, grant applications, website management, mailing lists, etc.), engaging a community and keeping them interested is a full-time job! One of the things I learned along the way is the immense power of your inner circle of supporters. All of the people who helped Musaics along the way provided indispensable advice and support, without which we would not be functioning along the way.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My work as a pianist is centered on interpreting classical works, with a current emphasis on those by Chopin, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and living young composers who work with Musaics of the Bay. My work as a pianist is inseparable from my work developing programming and projects with Musaics artists. The artists I work with inspire me to become a better pianist!
What’s next?
My future plans include deepening the reach of Musaics of the Bay by broadening our artistic community, reaching more audience members around the Bay Area, beginning a series of school partnerships, and motivating inspiring collaborations and pieces of music in the process. All of our work is heavily inspired by the theme of demystifying the classical arts for a new audience. We are starting a series of pop-up events in fun community spaces, like cider bars, natural wine bars, restaurants, homes, and breweries. These events will explore the creative process through performances, panel discussions, and dialogue with the community.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Audreyvardanegapianist.com
- Instagram: @audreyimpromptu
Image Credits
Gus Reed
Christos Vayenas
